< <  

Friday, July 4, 2003

  > >

St. Elizabeth of Portugal
(Independence Day, USA)


Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
Psalm 106:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13

View Readings
Similar Reflections

god and humpty dumpty

"Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord, or proclaim all His praises?" —Psalm 106:2

Because God is all-powerful Love, He works together all things for the good of those who love Him (Rm 8:28). He even overrides the destructive disruptions from our sins and gives us the harmony of His shalom-peace.

For example, the Lord took the death of Sarah and made it the occasion for giving Abraham a foothold in the promised land (Gn 23:4ff). He also used Isaac's marriage to Rebekah to give Isaac "solace after the death of his mother Sarah" (Gn 24:67). The Lord wove all these events together to create a beautiful masterpiece.

Matthew tried to get his life together. He figured that if he had a lot more money, it would help. So Matthew sinned by taking a tax-collector's job, which compromised his Jewish faith. Matthew then found that his life was going to pieces instead of coming together. When Matthew met Jesus, he knew Jesus was the One to put his life together. So Matthew followed Jesus (Mt 9:9). We all are like Matthew. Like Humpty Dumpty, we have had a "great fall," and we have "gone to pieces" (see Eph 2:1ff; Rm 3:23). We must repent and follow Jesus, Who works together all things for the good.

Prayer:  Father, piece me together and my country together.

Promise:  "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." —Mt 9:13

Praise:  St. Elizabeth took her role as Christian as more important than that of queen.

Reference:  (We have several tape series to help you read the Bible every day.
Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A.
15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700.
An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002